Dayton Flyers grad Mike Hauschild a big leaguer for the first time

Pitcher makes Texas Rangers’ Opening Day roster

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April 01, 2017

By Dave Jablonski

Staff Writer

University of Dayton and Beavercreek High School graduate Mike Hauschild will play in the big leagues for the first time next week. The Texas Rangers finalized their Opening Day roster on Saturday, and Hauschild, a 33rd-round pick in 2012, is on it.

Mike’s dad Doug Hauschild, the longtime sports information director at UD, was in Arlington, Texas, with his wife Patty to see the Rangers play an exhibition game Saturday and plans to stay there to see Mike’s Major League debut sometime next week.

“We’ll see what happens when he gets on the mound,” Doug said. “That’ll be the next pinch-me moment.”

The Rangers open the season at home Monday against the Cleveland Indians.

“A lot of people work hard,” Doug said. “A lot people have ability. Not everybody gets the chance. It’s incredibly amazing to know that he’s one of the lucky ones to get a chance.”

It is not known whether Hauschild, 27, will be the team’s fifth starter or work out of the bullpen. He’s prepared for either role. He appeared in eight games in the spring and made three starts. He had a 2.70 ERA in 20 innings.

Hauschild has appeared in 124 games in the minor leagues. He spent his entire career in the Houston Astros organization until the Rangers selected him in the Rule 5 draft in December.

Hauschild played for Rick Woolf at Beavercreek. He made the All-Greater Western Ohio Conference First Team as a senior. Hauschild will be Wolf’s second big leaguer, following Justin Masterson.

“I’m so tickled for both of the guys,” Woolf said, “because they truly are guys you want to root for.”

As a senior at UD in 2012, on coach Tony Vittorio’s team, he was 7-3 with a 4.26 ERA.